Protected ablation method and apparatus

• US 6,159,207 A
• Filed: 07/29/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US09/124,008
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/46, 606/119, 606/135, 606/148, 606/205, 607/96, 607/98, 607/99, 607/100, 607/101, 607/102
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0225 using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0463 against cooling or freezing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0481 against EM radiation, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/04 Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022

Abstract

A method and apparatus for protected ablation of anatomical tissue. A protective cap is disposed around tissue within an anatomical cavity by an endoscopic device or through open surgery techniques. The tissue can then be subject to ablation at high energy for a relatively long period of time, if necessary to ablate the tissue, without damaging surrounding organs or other tissue. The protective cap can be inserted endoscopically in a closed position in which it is compact radially and can be opened after being inserted into the body cavity to be placed around the tissue. The protective cap can be a thermal insulator, an electrical insulator, merely a physical pad to protect surrounding tissue, or of any desired characteristic for protection.

Claims

1. A surgical tissue protection device comprising:

an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity; and

a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated body comprises a tubular inner member disposed at least partly inside a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said protective cap is disposed on a distal end of said inner member.

4. A device as recited in claim 3, wherein said protective cap comprises at least one protective member.

5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one protective members each comprise a cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member.

6. A device as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said flexible arms to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said insulating members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position wherein said insulating members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member.

7. A device as recited in claim 6, wherein said protective members are spoon shaped when in the open position.

8. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said protective cap comprises at least one protective member, said at least one protective members each comprise a cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said elongated body.

9. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one operating channel defined in said inner member.

10. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a surgical instrument movably disposed in an operating channel.

11. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising energy transmission elements disposed on said protective cap.

12. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising energy sensors disposed on said protective cap.

13. A surgical tissue protection device comprising:

an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity, said elongated body comprising a tubular inner member disposed at least partly in a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member;

a plurality of protective members disposed on said distal end and being adapted to substantially cover anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, each of said protective members comprising a protective cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member; and

means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said at least one flexible arm to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said protective members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position, wherein said insulating members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member.

14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said protective members are spoon shaped when in the open position.

15. A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

at least one operating channel defined in said inner member.

16. A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a surgical instrument movably disposed in an operating channel.

17. A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising energy transmission elements disposed on said protective member.

18. A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising energy sensors disposed on said protective member.

19. A surgical ablation device comprising:

means for transmitting ablation energy to or from anatomical tissue;

an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside the anatomical cavity; and

a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope a surface of the anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.

20. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said elongated body comprises a tubular inner member disposed at least partly inside a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member.

21. A device as recited in claim 20, wherein said protective cap comprises at least one protective member, each of said protective members comprising a cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member.

22. A device as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said flexible arms to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said protective members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position wherein said protective members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member.

23. A device as recited in claim 22, wherein said protective members are spoon shaped when in the open position.

24. A device as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

at least one operating channel defined in said inner member.

25. A device as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a surgical instrument movably disposed in an operating channel.

26. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said protective cap is a thermal insulator and the ablation energy is in the form of heat transmitted to the tissue.

27. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said protective cap is a thermal insulator and the ablation energy is transmitted from the tissue to lower the temperature of the tissue.

28. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said protective cap is an electromagnetic insulator and a thermal insulator and the ablation energy is electromagnetic radiation.

29. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said means for transmitting comprises transmission elements disposed on said protective cap.

30. A protective device for internal anatomical tissue disposed within an anatomical cavity comprising:

at least one cupping element adapted to be disposed around the internal anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the cupping element can be inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.